Relay mechanism



June 21, 1932. R PADMORE 1,863,694

RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l WNW ax? QQ'W June21, 1932. B. R. PADMORE RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12. 1930 5Sheets-Sheet 2 June 21, 1932.

B. R. PADMORE RELAY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 06'.12PM, L-X'W Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BERTRAMREAD PADMORE, 0F NEWPORT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNION SWITCH 8c SIGNAL COMPANY, 033 SWISSVALE, PENN-SYLVANIA, A COR-POBATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA RELAY MECHANISM Applicationfiled. Augustm, 1930, Serial No. 474,851, and in Australia August 14,1928.

The present invention refers to the control of related circuits, withtimed intervals be? tween the functioning of same, by electrical relaymechanism, principally in train control equipment, which is applicableto the performance of eithera time element closing relay or a timeelement opening relay, the latter being differentiated from the formerin that the front contacts are closed immediately when the relay isenergized and are not opened until a predetermined time after the relayis deenergized.

Briefly stated the improvements reside essentially inthe provision ofmeans interposed between the usual toothed quadrant or seg' ment,directly operated by the energization of the relay and the usual slottedlink controlling the pivoted carrier of the contacts of the relatedcircuits, which contacts are actuated into the open or closed positionsat the expiry of a predetermined timed interval, which means will (interalia) constitu'te a materially simplified construction with reduction ofassembly and manufacturing cost.

In the present forms of these relays in the case of a closing relay, theenergization of the relay is utilized to store energy in a spring(hereinafter referred to as the spring type.) while in'the case'of anopening relay the fall of the segment on deenergization of the relay andwhich was previously raised by energization of the relay would beutilized to store the energy mentioned. consequent 1y in-the functioningof the closing relay in the case of a reduced voltage condition thetension. applied to the spring is below normal and'thus the retardingmechanism can only be operated at a slower speed than normal or forwhich it is set, resulting in a greater time interval.

In the caseof both opening and closing relays of the spring typementioned, the energization of the latter to raise the segment andthedeenergization of the former to allow the segment to drop immediatelyoperates to store energy in the spring, which lat terthen actuatestheretarding mechanism which uses the energy from the spring as it is beingstored in the latter.

It has been found in the spring type of relay mentioned that a certainindefinite and uncontrollable variable period occurs before the energybeing stored in the spring can commence to operate, resulting invariation of the timed interval between the opening or closing, or viceversa, of the contacts.

According to the present improvements the storage of energy forsubsequent utilization in actuating the retarding mechanism iscompletely and positively effected during the period of time occurringafter the said mechanism has operated, and in which period the contactsare restored to the normal position, which is a distinct advantage overthe abovementioned presentspring type insofar as the energy is stored inreadiness at all times for immediate and direct actuation of theretarding mechanism.

Various practical means for the storage of energy during the periodstates may be used, as for example,a spring or a counterweighted levercontrolling the usual pawl bracket and actuated into the energy storedposition either by the weight of the segment when falling in the case ofa closing relay, or by energization of the usual induction disc motor inthe case of an opening relay.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision forrelative or independent movement between the usual segment and the usualpawl bracket so that when the segment is released from the stored energyposition in both opening and closing relays, it will permit the movementmentioned which can be utilized to control a contact in a circuitfunctioning for any desired purpose, as for example a proving circuit.As a practical means for providing said last mentioned further feature,the link which occupies said segment and pawl bracket has a slot and pinconnection at each end connection.

The accompanying drawings depict a practical application of theseimprovements. In these drawings Figure 1 is a plan of the relay with theusual overhead contact carrier removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line II-lI of Figure 1, but includingthe contact carrier which is notshown in Figure 1.

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Figure 0 is a similar View to Figure 2, showing the parts in the reverseposition to that shown in Figure 2.

These figures of drawings are directed towards constructions in anopening relay, only the parts thereof with which the invention isdirectly concerned being illustrated in detail.

At the outset it is necessary to state that the position of the partsillustrated in Figures 1 and 2 corresponds to that of an opening relayin the normal or energized position with the front contacts closed,whereas in Figure .3 the position of the parts corresponds to that of anopening relay during the period of time directly following thecompletion of the operation of the retarding mechanism with the frontcontact in the open position.

Referring now to the drawings, the relay mechanism is shown mounted in asuitable frame comprising a base plate 1 having upstanding side members2. A top plate TP of suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, issupported on the upper ends of the side members 2, and suspended fromthis top plate in suitable spaced relation is a fixed front contact F Cand a fixed back contact B0. A contact carrier CC is pivotally mountedat 3, and is provided with two contact springs 10 and 11 which areadapted to engage the front contact FC or the back contact BC ac cordingas the relay is energized as shown in Fig. 2, or is deenergized as shownin Fig. 3. The contact carrier is also provided with a counterweight 13and with a substantially horizontal arm a. The counterweight 13 servesto bias the contact carrier to the position shown in Fig. 2, excessrotation of the contact carrier due to the counterweight being preventedby suitable stop 14. The arm a is pivotally connected to the upper endof the usual link SL, the lower end of which is provided with a slot 16.The slot 16 receives a pin 17 carried by a pawl bracket PB. The pawlbracket PB is pivotally mounted at 5 in a suitable framework 18 securedto the base plate 1, and is adapted to drive the retarding mechanism RMof the relayin a manner which will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

The retarding mechanism RM is similar to that shown and described inLetters Patent of the United States, No. 1,272,972, granted to Lloyd V.Lewis, on July 16th, 1918, for circuit controllers, and brieflycomprises a brake disc 20 which is arranged to be driven by a ratchetwheel: 19 through the medium of a train of gears G interposed betweenthe ratchet wheel and the disc. The brake disc 20 is intended tocooperate with permanent magnets not shown, in such manner that rotationof this disc will set up eddy currents in the disc which will consumeenergy and oppose the rotation of the disc with a torque which dependsupon the speed of the disc.

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The ratchet wheel 19 is adapted to be rotated by means of pawls P whichare pivoted on an arm 21 on the pawl bracket PB.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen, that, if the pawl bracketPB is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shownin Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the pawls P will drive theratchet wheel 19, thus actuating the retarding mechanism RM, which, ofcourse, retards the movement of the pawl bracket. At the same time, thepin 17 carried by the pawl bracketwill gradually move upwardly in theslot 16 in the lower end of the link SL, so that, after an interval oftime, it will engage with the upper end of the slot, and cause thecontact finger 10 to open the front contact FC and the contact linger 11to close the back contact BC. WVhen' the pawl bracket PB is subsequentlyrestored to the position shown in Fig. 2, the pawls P will ride freely011 the ratchet wheel 19, and the pin 17 will move downwardly to permitthe back contact BC to be opened and the front contact FC to be closedby the action of the counterweight 13.

The reference character DM designates a motor, here shown to be of thewell known induction disc type, and comprising the usual disc 22 ofsuitable material, such as aluminum, fixed to a rotatable shaft 28, andadapted to be inductively influenced by the fluxes which are set up inan electromagnet 24 when the associated winding or windings 25 areenergized, the parts as here shown being so arranged that, when thewindings 25 are energized, the disc 22 will be rotated in a clockwisedirection as viewed inFigs. 2 and 3. Mounted on the shaft 23 of themotor DM, and connected thereto by a suitable friction clutch 27 of wellknown construction, is a pin gear 26 which meshes with the usual segmentS. This segment is supported on, and is fastened to a spindle 8 which isjournalled in suitable bearing screws 28. lVhen the relay is energized,the motor DM rotates the segment S from the position shown in Fig. 3 tothe position shown in Fig. 2, in which latter position its lower armengages a pin 30 mounted upon a slider 31 capa- Me of vertical slidingmovement along aguide rod 32. The position of the slider 31 is arrangedto be vertically adjusted by means of a screw threaded rod 33,traversing a corresponding screw threaded aperture in the slider 31, andadapted to be rotated by inserting a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver, into a saw kerf provided in a head 34: located on the upper sideof the top plate TP through which the rod 33 passes.

It will be readily understood that when the motor DM has rotated thesegment S to the position shown in Fig. 2, due to the energization ofthe windings 25, the motor will continue to hold the segment in thisposition as long as the windings, 25 remain energized. As soon, however,as the supply of current to the windings 25 is interrupted, the torqueexerted on the disc 22 will cease, and the segment S will then descend,under the influence of gravity, to the position in which it isillustrated in Fig. 3.

According to the present invention and as before stated the period oftime which occurs following restoration of the parts from thedeenergized position shown in Figure 3 to the energized position shownin Figure 2, energy stored in readiness for actuation of the retardingmechanism RM at its next succeeding operation, and during whichperiod'the contactsare restored to the normal position in Figure 2 bythe action of the counterweight 13 on the contact carrier.

' In order to achieve this storage during the particular interval oftime mentioned, the pivoted pawl bracket PB is controlled by acounterweighted lever CWL, which is conveniently fashioned to constitutean extension of the pawl bracket beyond its pivot 5, V

the pawl bracket PB being linked to the segment- S through link 6 andcrank arm 7 on the spindle 8 of said segment S.

In order to provide for the beforementioned further feature of theinvention, the link 6 has a slot and pin connection 9 at each end withthe pawl bracket PB and arm 7, so that movement of the segment as forexample from its elevated position in Figure 2 downwardly is efiectedindependently of any movement of the link effected by the connection ofthe latter to the pawl bracket PB.

In order to prove that the segment has dropped, it can be utilized as aswitching medium controlling sprin contacts SC.

It will be appreciated rom the foregoing that when the relay becomesenergized, the counterweighted lever CVVL, being initially in theposition shown in Figure 3 will, by operation of the motor DM be raisedinto the elevated and energy storage position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As a consequence when the relay next becomes deenergized, the energystored in the counterweighted lever Cl/VL is immediately and positivelyavailable to effect actuation of the retarding mechanism through thedriving pawls P carried by the pawl bracket PB.

In the case of a closing relay as will be well understood the frontcontacts will be normally in the open position and consequently theposition of the parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be difi'erent to theextent that the arm 7 will be located at an angle of anti-clockwise tothe position shown in Fig ure 2-, and the segment is in a position at 90clockwise from the position shown in said Figure 2, the wei ht of thesegment S in that case being sufficient to raise and maintain thecounterweighted lever in its elevated position. Further, the contacts SCwill be located in the upper portion of the relay case and be operated bthe segment when the latter is raised by t 1e energizat-ion of therelay.

As before indicated the storage of energy during the periodbeforementioned may be offected in a spring, in which case in lieu ofthe counterweighted lever CVVL a spring SP may be fitted as indicated indotted lines in Figure 3. with one end attached to a fixed point, as forexample the casing and the other end to the pawl bracket PB as shown insaid figure.

Obviously a spring such as SP can be contrived in various effective waysfor the storage of energy during the period of time beforementioned,which energy will be applied subsequently to the actuation of the pawl Uopposite direction independently of said I.

motor, means for retarding the movement of said member when said memberis being moved by said counterweight but not when said member is beingmoved by said motor, a pivoted con-tact carrier biased to one position,and a pin and slot connection between said movable member and saidcontact carrier for moving the contact carrier to another positionduring the latter part of the movement of said member by the inductionmotor and for permitting return of the contact carrier by its biasduring the early part of the movement of said member by saidcounterweight.

2. Relay mechanism comprising two movable members each biased in onedirection,

power means for moving said one member in opposition to its biasingmeans, a rigid link connected with both of said members by pin and slotconnections in such manner that movement of said one member by saidpower means causes positive movement of the other member in oppositionto its biasbut that movement of said one member by its bias permits freemovement of the other member by its bias, means for retarding themovement of said other member when and only when it is being moved byits bias, and a contact device controlled by said second member.

3. Relay mechanism comprising a first member which is moved in twodirections, a second movable member biased in one direction, a :pin andslot connection between said members so arranged that movement of saidfirs't member in .one direction positively moves said second member inopposition to its bias but that movement of said first member in theopposite direction permits free movement of said second member by itsbias, slow acting means for causin a slow movement of said second memberby its bias but not for retarding the movement of said second member bysaid first member, and a contact device controlled by said secondmember.

4. Relay mechanism comprising a. first member which is moved in twodirections, a second movable member, a counterweight for biasing saidsecond member in one direction, a pin and slot connection between saidmembers so arranged that movement of said first member in one directionpositively moves said second member in opposition to the bias of saidcounterweight but that movement of said first member in the oppositedirection permits free movement of said second member by saidcounterweight, slow acting means for causing a slow movement of saidsecond member by its bias but not for retarding the movement of saidsecond member by said first member, and a contact device controlled bysaid second member.

5. Relay mechanism comprising a first member which is moved in twodirections, a second movable member, a spring for biasing said secondmember in one direction, a pin and slot connection between said membersso arranged that movement of said first member in one directionpositively moves said second member in opposition to the bias of saidspring but that movement of said first member in the opposite directionpermits free movement of said second member by said spring, slow actingmeans for causing a slow movement of said second member by its bias butnot for retarding the movement of said second member by said firstmember, and a contact device controlled by said second memher.

6. Relay mechanism comprising a rotatable spindle, a segment fixed tosaid spindle and biasing said spindle to one position, a motor forswinging said segment to a different position, a pivoted pawl bracket, acounterweight for biasing said pawl bracket to one position, an armattached to said spindle, a pin and slot connection between said arm andsaid segment so arranged that rotation of said spindle in response torotation of said segment by said motor positively moves said pawlbracket in opposition to the bias of said counterweight but thatrotation of said spindle in the opposite direction permits free movementof said pawl bracket by said counterweight, retarding mechanismcontrolled by said pawl bracket and arranged to be actuated when andonly when said pawl bracket is moved by said counterweight, and acontact device controlled by said pawl bracket.

7. Relay mechanism comprising a rotatable spindle, a segment fixed tosaid spindle and biasing said spindle to one position, a motor forswinging said segment to a different position, a pivoted pawl bracket, aspring for biasing said pawl bracketto one position, an arm attached tosaid spindle, a pin and slot connection between said arm and saidsegment so arranged that rotation of said spindle in response torotation of said segment by said motor positively moves said pawlbracket in opposition to the bias of said spring but that rotation ofsaid spindle in the opposite direction permits free movement of saidpawl bracket by said spring, retarding mechanism controlled by said pawlbracket and arranged to be actuated when and only when said pawl bracketis moved by said spring, and a contact device controlled by said pawlbracket.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

BERTRAh I READ PADMORE.

